Sill-step.



P. w. COOLBAUGH.

SILL STEP.-

APPLIUATION FILED MAR.'14,1912- Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

2 W C Invezitor:

by r

tin s'rarns PATENT orrro FRANK WILLIAM COOLBA'UGH, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

SILL-STEP.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. COOL- BAUGI-I, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sill-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sill-steps,such as are attached to the side or end sills of freight cars, etc., andproject down from the same to facilitate mounting or jumping upon thecar.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved sill-stepwhich is simple in construction, strong and durable, not ex pensive andwhich permits the train men to mount and dismount the car with greatersafety.

In the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicatelike parts in all the figures: Figure 1 is a side view of my improvedsill step made of two angle irons. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view onthe line A-A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification madefrom a channel bar. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same on the lineB--B of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side View of another modification made frompressed metal, in one piece. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on theline CG of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line D--D ofFig. 5.

My improved sill-step is composed of a downwardly extending memberprovided at its upper end with a flaring member or members by means ofwhich the sill-step can be riveted or bolted to the sill of a car and atthe lower end the downwardly projecting member is provided with two stepportions, extending horizontally in opposite direc tions from the lowerend of the main member, in the direction of the length of the car whenthe sill-step is attached to the side sill or transversely to the lengthof the car when the sill-step is attached to the end sill.

As shown in Fig. 1 my improved sill-step is made of two angle irons eachbeing bent to form a vertical portion 1, from the upper end of which anarm 2 is inclined upward and at the lower portion of which a horizontalarm 3 is formed, the top edge of which is formed by the flange 5 of theangle iron. The portions 1 of the two angle irons are overlapped so thatthe flanges are at the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1 1,

Patented Dec. 1&1912.

1912. Serial No. 683,680.

outer edges and then these overlapping portions are riveted together byrivets 6, the upper'portions 2 being inclined upward or from each otheror flared and are secured by bolts or rivets 7 to the sill S of the car.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the sill step is made from achannel bar 9, the flanges 10 of which extend outward. At the upper endthe channel bar is split to form the two inclined arms 11 extendingoppositely and the lower end of the bar 9 is slitted and bent inopposite directions horizontally to form the step portions 12, theflange of the channel bar here likewise being at the top. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the step is made in pressedmetal, and is also composed of the main portion 14, the flaring top 15and the horizontal step portions 16 extending in opposite directionsfrom the main body portion 1 1. The main body portion 1 1 is providedwith the flanges 17 and the step portion with the top and bottom flanges18. It will thus be seen that in all constructions the body portion, thetop flaring portion for attaching the sill-step to the sill by means ofbelts or rivets and the horizontal stop portions are all provided withflanges.

The conventional type of step used heretofore consists of a U-shapedstep riveted or bolted to the sill and made of wroughtiron or steelandcan-be used easily by the train-men when the train is at rest, butwhen the train is in motion this step is exceedingly dangerous as theman in mounting must place his foot in between the two uprights inorderto catch the tread. This conventional step is also weak in the directionof the length of the car and is apt to be bent and twisted. My sillstep, in all constructions is stiff andrigid and presents a sure step tothe brakeman or train-man for his foot in whichever direction the carmay be moving. It is much safer because the train-man need not inserthis foot in be tween the two bars and this is of particular importancewhen the train is in motion, and insures against accident in descendingfrom the top of the car as the trainunan need only feel with. his footfor the vertical central member, and is then assured of a foot-holdbeneath.

Having described my invention what I of a vertical body portion, a topportion for attaching the sill step to the sill of a car, two horizontalstep portions at the bottom of the vertical portion, said horizontalstep portions extending in opposite directions from each other at thelower end of the body portion, and said step portions, body portion, andtop being all in substantially the same vertical plane, substantially asset forth.

2. A sill. step for railway cars, composed of a vertical body portion, atop portion for attaching the sill step to the sill of a car, twohorizontal step portions at the bot tom of the vertical portion, saidhorizontal steps extending in opposite directions at the lower end ofthe body portion and each horizontal step portion having a flange at itsupper edge, and said body portion, steps and top being all insubstantially the same vertical plane, substantially as set forth.

3. A sill-step for railway cars composed of a vertical body portion,having flanges along the edges, a flanged top portion for attaching tothe cars, extending from the upper end of the body portion, and two stepportions at the bottom of the body portion and extending in oppositedirections, said step portions having flanges on their upper edge,substantially as set forth.

Signed at Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania this 5th day of March, A. D. 1912.

FRANK WILLIAM COOL BAUGll' lVitnesses K. M. COOLBAUGH, JOSEPH KLAPPNiorronns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0.

